Two Jackson School Board candidates backed by the district's Michigan Education Association affiliates and a pair supported by two departing board members are among five people seeking two spots Nov. 2.

Unions representing Jackson teachers and three other employee groups are recommending former educators Leslie Cummings and Jon Hart, who are running together as a slate.

Michael Brown and Kathryn Keersmaekers, two longtime board members who are not seeking reelection, both have announced their support for Jackson County Youth Center Director Teresa Hawkins and local volunteer Cheryl Simonetti.

Brenda Aubrey, an account executive for Konica Minolta and former member of the Jackson Education Fund Board, is also running.

Board President David Halsey and his wife, Natalie, have urged voters to consider Simonetti in a Citizen Patriot Voice of the People letter.

Keersmaekers said she is concerned that Cummings — a recently retired Jackson teacher — and Hart are too close to district staff.

"I would never endorse a former employee of the school district because they come with a personal agenda," Keersmaekers said. "They're very nice people. I just don't think they're right for this particular position."

Brown said retired district employees like Cummings should wait three to five years before seeking board election.

Both Cummings and Hart said they are capable of being objective.

"I think that the people that know me would know that I'm just trying to do the best that I could do and that I'd be fair," Cummings said. "I feel like I'd be prejudiced for the kids, because I have spent most of my life getting the kids through."

Jon Harmon, a regional MEA director who represents the district's teachers and support staff, said union officials were impressed that Cummings and Hart have expressed a willingness to listen to all stakeholders — including the unions, parents and administrators.

Both Keersmaekers and Brown said Hawkins is a good fit because of her work with children at the youth center, a facility for juvenile delinquents. They said they like Simonetti partially because she's been so active in the district as a parent.